Most of you are in favour of this controversial new measure, but Bill Shorten disagrees

Four days ago New South Wales premier Mike Baird called for an end to the greyhound industry after an inquiry into the industry following revelations of live baiting.

Many of you came out in support of such a hard-line decision, especially when it was revealed by former High Court judge Michael McHugh that between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds – or almost half of all greyhounds bred to race – were killed in the past 12 years because they were deemed uncompetitive.

However, others called for the industry to be forced to clean up its act rather than just shut it down completely. Their views are supported by the Labor Party, including its leader Bill Shorten.

“There’s been scandalous behaviour in NSW and the welfare of those animals is most important but whether or not it’s taking a sledgehammer to this issue, I don’t know,” Shorten told The Guardian.

“There’s (sic) people who have done the right thing and they’re being unfairly tarred with the same brush as the scallywags, scoundrels and criminals.”

The New South Wales Labor leader Luke Foley says there are an “overwhelming majority” of people in the industry that have only ever done the right thing, and will join forces with the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party and the Christian Democrats’ Fred Nile to oppose the legislation when it’s introduced in August.

In announcing the ban, premier Mike Baird says the State Government found no alternative after the Special Commission of Inquiry report revealed “chilling” evidence of animal cruelty within the industry.

Do you think the industry can be cleaned up or is shutting it down the only solution? What considerations do you feel are being overlooked with this decision?